Burner control device and electrical switch unit assembly, parts therefor and methods of making the same

Abstract

A combination of a burner control device and electrical switch unit, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the combination comprising a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and an electrical switch unit carried by the burner control device and being operated by the selector shaft, the burner control device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, the switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively receiving the heads of the screws therein, at least one of the cavities having a snap-fit structure therein that is snap-fitted to its respective head to hold the switch unit to the burner control device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In the combination of a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and an electrical switch unit carried by the burner control device and being operated by said selector shaft, said burner device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, said switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively receiving said heads of said screws therein, the improvement wherein it least one of said cavities has snap-fit means therein that is snap-fitted to its respective head to hold said switch unit to said burner control device. 
     
     
       2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cavities are each substantially oblong in configuration. 
     
     
       3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said oblong cavities have the long dimensions thereof angled relative to each other. 
     
     
       4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cavities are each substantially circular in configuration. 
     
     
       5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein only two screws and two cavities are provided. 
     
     
       6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head of each said screw is substantially cylindrical and has opposed ends one of which abuts said cover and the other of which is a free end remote from said cover, said free end of each said head having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of said one end thereof and defines a snap-fit means that snap-fit with said snap-fit means of said switch unit. 
     
     
       7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch unit has a housing means provided with an end wall means that is disposed adjacent said cover of said burner control device, said cavities respectively interrupting said end wall means. 
     
     
       8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said end wall means has a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom, said cavities respectively interrupting said projections. 
     
     
       9. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch unit has opening means passing therethrough and receiving a portion of said selector shaft therein. 
     
     
       10. In an electrical switch unit carried by a burner control device and be operated by a selector shaft of said burner control device which has a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, said switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein for respectively receiving said heads of said screws therein, the improvement wherein at least one of said cavities has snap-fit means therein snap-fits to its respective screw head to hold said switch unit to said burner control device. 
     
     
       11. An electrical switch unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cavities are each substantially oblong in configuration. 
     
     
       12. An electrical switch unit as set forth in claim 11 wherein said oblong cavities have the long dimensions thereof angled relative to each other. 
     
     
       13. An electrical switch unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said cavities are each substantially circular in configuration. 
     
     
       14. An electrical switch unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein only two cavities are provided. 
     
     
       15. An electrical switch unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said switch unit has a housing means provided with an end wall means that is disposed adjacent said cover of said burner control device, said cavities respectively interrupting said end wall means. 
     
     
       16. An electrical switch unit as set forth in claim 15 wherein said end wall means has a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom, said cavities respectively interrupting said projections. 
     
     
       17. In a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and carrying an electrical switch unit so as to be operated by said selector shaft, said burner control device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, said switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively receive said heads of said screws therein, said head of each said screw being substantially cylindrical and having opposed ends one of which abuts said cover and the other of which is a free end remote from said cover, the improvement wherein said free end of said head of each said screw has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of said one end thereof and defines a snap-fit means which snap fits with snap-fit means of said switch unit that is disposed in its respective cavity. 
     
     
       18. In the method of making the combination of a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and an electrical switch unit carried by the burner control device and being operated by said selector shaft, said burner control device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, said switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively receiving said heads of said screws therein, the improvement comprising the step of forming at least one of said cavities to have snap-fit means therein that is snap-fitted to its respective head to hold said switch unit to said burner control. 
     
     
       19. In a method of making an electrical switch unit carried by a burner control device and be operated by a selector shaft of said burner control which has a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, said switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein for respectively receiving said heads of said screws therein, the improvement comprising the step of forming at least one of said cavities to have snap-fit means therein snap-fits to its respective head to hold said switch unit to said burner control device. 
     
     
       20. In a method of making a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and carrying an electrical switch unit so as to be operated by said selector shaft, said burner control device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, said switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively to receive said heads of said screws therein, said head of each said screw being substantially cylindrical and having opposed ends one of which abuts said cover and the other of which is a free end remote from said cover, the improvement comprising the step of forming said free end of each said head to have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of said one end thereof and thereby define a snap-fit means which snap-fits with snap-fit means of said switch unit that is disposed in its respective cavity.